Requisites

This Is Buck Hill ~ Buck Hill Quartet | By Eddie Carter

My first choice from the library for April is by one of the hidden stars of jazz. His name was Roger Wendell Hill, but everyone would know him by his nickname Buck. Hill began his professional career as a musician in 1943 while working as a Washington D.C. mailman. Buck first worked with Charlie Byrd in the late fifties, later appearing on albums by Shirley Horn, Alan Houser, and Shirley Scott. He also performed with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, and Sonny Stitt but didn’t record as a leader until the late seventies. Buck also played the clarinet and soprano sax, but the tenor sax was his primary instrument. This Is Buck Hill (SteepleChase Records SCS 1095) is a 1978 release offering all the excitement and energy of an after-hours jam session. He’s working with an outstanding rhythm section, Kenny Barron on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. My copy used in this report is the 1978 US Stereo album.

Side One starts with Tokudo, an original by Buster Williams that the bassist would record again a year later on his album, Heartbeat. This tune begins at a brisk tempo for the melody, and everyone is afforded a solo opportunity. Buck delivers the goods with aggressive momentum on the first presentation. Kenny shifts into high gear on the next reading. Buster dips into a soulful groove on the third statement, and Billy gives a dazzling performance before the out-chorus. Yesterdays by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach is one of the most recorded jazz and pop compositions since its creation in 1933. The group swings at a medium tempo on the main theme. Hill gradually builds the excitement on the first statement to a sensational climax. Barron offers a beautiful sentiment in the next reading. Williams swings to a groovy beat preceding a luscious ending.

A blistering introduction by Billy begins Oleo by Sonny Rollins. The foursome gets things underway with a very quick melody. Buck takes off like the Road Runner for a high-octane fast ride including three unaccompanied verses of white heat. Kenny powers the next interpretation with energetic exertion, then Billy has a final furious exchange with Buck culminating into a brilliant climax.

Side Two begins with the first of three selections by the leader. I’m Aquarius is a beautiful ballad that originally appeared in a suite on trumpet player Alan Houser’s 1973 album, No Samba.  It opens elegantly with a cascading flow of tenderness from Barron segueing gently into the melody with Hill directing the ensemble softly. The tenor remains tastefully restrained on the opening statement.  Kenny closes with a delicate sensitivity leading to a sultry coda.

S.M.Y. is a lively original possessing an irresistible beat exuding happiness from the first notes of the opening chorus. The saxophonist starts the ball rolling with some vigorous blowing. Kenny digs in for some good rocking jazz next, then Buck supplies an abundant supply of high-voltage current into the theme’s reprise. The album closes with Two Chord Molly, an uptempo tune allowing everyone except Hart to contribute lengthy readings. The trio lays down a swinging line on the introduction with Hill providing vast amounts of energy to the festive melody. Barron delivers an enthusiastically rigorous lead solo. Buster gets down to business next with an intense workout. Buck accelerates on the closer producing electrically charged notes. During Hill’s statement, you can hear someone commenting (I’m sure positively) on his performance.

The man behind the controls is Elvin Campbell, whose work can be heard on many jazz albums. This record is well recorded, and the highs, midrange, and bottom end are all very detailed with an excellent soundstage and crystal-clear clarity. Buck recorded three more albums for SteepleChase, Scope (1979), Easy To Love (1982), and Impressions (1983). Hill passed away at age ninety on March 20, 2017. You’d never suspect this was the quartet’s first recording together because the music is excellent, and their interaction is seamless. Buck also meets the challenge of writing good compositions with strong performances inspired by Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart. On your next vinyl hunt, I’ll hope you’ll consider This Is Buck Hill for a spot in your library. He was a veteran jazzman who certainly deserves a place alongside the greatest to ever blow the tenor saxophone!

~ Easy To Love (SteepleChase SCS-1160), Heartbeat (Muse Records MR 5171), Impressions (SteepleChase SCS 1173), No Samba (Straight Ahead ARS 001), Scope (SteepleChase SCS 1123) – Source: Discogs.com
~ Oleo, Yesterdays – Source: JazzStandards.com
~ Alan Houser, No Samba – Source: Album liner notes by J.R. Taylor
~ Roger Wendell Hill, Tokudo, Heartbeat, Scope, Easy To Love, Impressions, Elvin Campbell – Source: AllMusic.com, Wikipedia.org
© 2021 by Edward Thomas Carter

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